Kelli O'Hara
Birth Place: Edmond, OK, USA
BIO
Kelli Christine O'Hara (born April 16, 1976) is an American actress and singer, most known for her work on the Broadway and opera stages.
An eight-time Tony Award nominee, O'Hara won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Anna Leonowens in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of The King and I. She also received Tony nominations for her performances in The Light in the Piazza (2005), The Pajama Game (2006), South Pacific (2008), Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012), The Bridges of Madison County (2014), Kiss Me, Kate (2019), and Days of Wine and Roses (2024).
O'Hara received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical in 2024 for Days of Wine and Roses. She was nominated for the Olivier Award for her performance as Anna Leonowens in the West End revival of The King and I.
O'Hara made her debut at The Metropolitan Opera in a 2014 production of Franz Lehár's The Merry Widow. In 2018, she played the role of Despina in the Met Opera's production of Mozart's Cosi fan tutte. In 2022, she returned to the Met, starring as Laura Brown in Kevin Puts' The Hours, a role she and co-stars Renee Fleming and Joyce DiDonato reprised for eight performance in May 2024.
She has also played roles in television series, such as Masters of Sex, 13 Reasons Why, and The Gilded Age, receiving a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her starring role in the 2017 web drama series The Accidental Wolf.
Photos
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 20: Kelli O'Hara performs onstage at the Concert for America 2025 at The Town Hall on January 20, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Concert for America)
Date:
01/21/2025
From: PHOTOS: Las estrellas se unen en un concierto solidario por la esperanza y la justicia
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 20: (L-R) Ann Harada, Cecily Strong, Lorna Courtney, Jessica Vosk, Julie Benko, Anika Larsen, Luis Salgado, Judy Kuhn, Kelli O'Hara, Seth Rudetsky, Ingrid Michaelson, Nina West, Hennessy Winkler, Merle Dandridge and Julia Murney attend the Concert for America 2025 at The Town Hall on January 20, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Concert for America)
Date:
01/21/2025
From: PHOTOS: Las estrellas se unen en un concierto solidario por la esperanza y la justicia
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STAGE CREDITS
[Off-Broadway]
Atlantic Theater Company Off-Broadway Premiere Production, 2023
[Broadway]
Lincoln Center Revival, 2008
Ensign Nellie Forbush [Replacement]
[Replacement]
[Broadway]
Roundabout Revival, 2001
Lady of the Ensemble
Young Hattie
Young Phyllis [Replacement]
Lady of the Ensemble
Young Hattie
Young Phyllis [Replacement]
Young Sally (Understudy)
Young Heidi (Understudy)
Young Phyllis (Understudy)
Young Heidi (Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
Young Phyllis (Unknown)
Young Sally (Unknown)
(Unknown)
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(Unknown)
(Unknown)
(Unknown)
Young Phyllis (Unknown)
(Unknown)
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Young Heidi (Unknown)
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[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1997
Kate [Replacement]
[Replacement]
Emma Carew (Understudy) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
(Unknown) [Replacement]
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Awards and Nominations
winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical
Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Drama League Awards - 2024 - Distinguished Performance
Kelli O’Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2024 - Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
Tony Awards - 2024 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Days of Wine and Roses
winner
Drama League Awards - 2019 - Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre
Kelli O'Hara
Drama League Awards - 2019 - Distinguished Performance Award
Kelli O'Hara, Kiss Me, Kate
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2019 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Kiss Me, Kate
Tony Awards - 2019 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Kiss Me, Kate
winner
BroadwayWorld Awards - 2015 - Best Leading Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
Drama League Awards - 2015 - Distinguished Performance Award
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2015 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
winner
Tony Awards - 2015 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The King and I
Drama Desk Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Drama League Awards - 2014 - Distinguished Performance Award
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Tony Awards - 2014 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County
Drama Desk Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Drama League Awards - 2012 - Distinguished Performance Award
Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2012 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O’Hara , Nice Work If You Can Get It
Tony Awards - 2012 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
Drama Desk Awards - 2008 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, South Pacific
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2008 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, South Pacific
Tony Awards - 2008 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2006 - Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Pajama Game
Tony Awards - 2006 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Pajama Game
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2005 - Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Light in the Piazza
Tony Awards - 2005 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Light in the Piazza
Videos
Video: Watch Kelli O'Hara, Renée Fleming & More in THE HOURS Preview Ahead of its Premiere on PBS
by Michael Major - 2023-03-17 11:11:13
VIDEO: STARS IN THE HOUSE FOR UKRAINE Raises Over $139,000
by Chloe Rabinowitz - 2022-03-30 11:34:53
VIDEO: Watch Billy Porter Sing 'From A Distance' For Bette Midler at the Kennedy Center Honors
by Michael Major - 2021-12-21 10:01:03
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara, Ashley Park & More in THE ACCIDENTAL WOLF Season Two Trailer
by Michael Major - 2021-12-07 12:00:17
VIDEO: Jose Llana Visits Backstage with Richard Ridge- Watch Now!
by Backstage With Richard Ridge - 2021-12-03 15:00:20
VIDEO: Watch Dianne Reeves Perform 'It Don't Mean A Thing' From THE KENNEDY CENTER AT 50 Concert
by Michael Major - 2021-09-29 17:08:23
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Performs 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at New York's 9/11 Memorial Ceremony
by Stephi Wild - 2021-09-12 09:38:21
VIDEO: Renee Fleming Launches 'Healing Breath' Series to Help COVID-19 Survivors
by Stephi Wild - 2021-08-03 05:40:27
VIDEO: Watch Broadway Unite for the BROADWAY BACKWARDS Finale!
by Nicole Rosky - 2021-04-01 09:38:52
VIDEO: Watch Kelli O'Hara Talk Audition Stories & More on the Latest Episode of 32 BAR CUT
by Nicole Rosky - 2021-03-25 12:01:00
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Hosts FRIDAY NIGHT THRIVE LIVE! For Westport Country Playhouse
by Stephi Wild - 2020-08-17 09:50:27
Broadway Rewind: Fall Into Scenes from THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY in 2014
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-07-14 17:29:46
Broadway Rewind: Watch Scenes from THE PAJAMA GAME, with Kelli O'Hara and Harry Connick Jr.
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-05-19 16:31:00
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Partners With Westport Country Playhouse For 'Getting to Know You: A Celebration of Young Artists'
by Stephi Wild - 2020-04-18 10:35:58
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Shares Favorite Memories From FOLLIES, THE PAJAMA GAME, and KISS ME KATE
by Stephi Wild - 2020-04-15 07:17:04
VIDEO: Kelli O'Hara Will Host Westport Country Playhouse's Live-Streamed Showcase of Young Performers
by Stephi Wild - 2020-04-03 08:07:07
VIDEO: Darren Criss Performs Acoustic "Being Alive" For THE ROSIE O'DONNELL SHOW Benefit Concert
by A.A. Cristi - 2020-03-23 22:01:41
TV: Watch Sutton Foster, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley & More Tribute Jerry Herman!
by Nicole Rosky - 2020-02-04 11:26:13
TV: Looking Back At Harry Connick Jr.'s Opening Night In ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER
by Linnae Medeiros - 2019-12-12 15:20:43
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many Broadway shows has Kelli O'Hara been in?
Kelli O'Hara has appeared on Broadway in 14 shows.
How many West End shows has Kelli O'Hara been in?
Kelli O'Hara has appeared on London's West End in 1 shows.
What was Kelli O'Hara's first West End show?
Kelli O'Hara's first West End show was The King and I which opened in 2018
What awards has Kelli O'Hara been nominated for?
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Distinguished Performance (Drama League Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Days of Wine and Roses, Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards), Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Kiss Me, Kate, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Kiss Me, Kate, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Kiss Me, Kate, Best Leading Actress in a Musical (BroadwayWorld Awards) for The King and I, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The King and I, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The King and I, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The King and I, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Bridges of Madison County, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Bridges of Madison County, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Bridges of Madison County, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Bridges of Madison County, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Nice Work If You Can Get It , Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Nice Work If You Can Get It , Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Nice Work If You Can Get It , Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Nice Work If You Can Get It , Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for South Pacific , Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for South Pacific, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific, Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Pajama Game, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Pajama Game, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Light in the Piazza and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Light in the Piazza.
What awards has Kelli O'Hara won?
Kelli O'Hara has won several prestigious awards throughout her career. She received the Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical award at the Drama Desk Awards for Days of Wine and Roses. Additionally, she won the Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same show. Kelli O'Hara was honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre award from the Drama League Awards. She also earned the Best Leading Actress in a Musical award at the BroadwayWorld Awards for her role in The King and I. Furthermore, she won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for The King and I.
Videos